Bibliotherapy: An Option for Enhancing Students' Motivation for Academic Achievement in Iganmode Grammar School and Grait International College, Ota - Ogun State

Ilogho, Julie E, Ife Psychologia

Abstract

The paper examines Bibliotherapy (Book Therapy) as an option for fostering students' motivation for academic achievement and success. Enhancing students' motivation for academic achievement is an important subject in educational psychology which requires serious attention. The research is a survey study and random sampling technique was adopted for selecting the population sample. The Respondents for this study are Senior Secondary School 3 students from Iganmode Grammar School (a Public School) and Grait International College (a Private School) both located in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The finding revealed that students who read diverse kinds of materials including textbooks; used library material; and acquired personal reading materials had their achievement motivation enhanced/increased than those who do not read books, use library resources or acquire personal books. Thus, the two Null Hypotheses tested were rejected. Recommendations include: (1) that the Government and all other institution responsible for managing Education of younger generations should come together and find a lasting solution to the education sector, conduct research, and prescribe practicable educational policies that will move the nation's education forward. (2) Government should increase the funding of education. (3) Librarians should collaborate with school authorities, counselors and teachers in order to render more effective library services. (4) Librarians should work with school teachers and counsellors to know the reading needs and challenges of students; this will assist in acquiring relevant reading materials in addition to academic books. (5) Book club programmes packaged with giving of awards to best readers and most frequent users of library resources should be encouraged in schools. (6) School Management should make provision for a robust school library that is stocked with all kinds relevant materials including motivational books. Finally (7) Bibliotherapy should be taught as a course or incorporated into an already existing course offered in Nigeria Library Schools.

Introduction

The Nigerian education system has been bedeviled and battered by several problems which affected the general academic performance and output of students in major national examinations. The decline in students' performance is alarming and embarrassing. This is so for all levels of the educational system, including primary, secondary and tertiary levels. This unfortunate situation has persisted for some years now. Governments after governments have come and have not been able to find a lasting solution to the age long education problem.

As reported in the Guardian Newspaper of October 19th 2009, the scandalously poor results in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) are clear indications of a progressive slide into the abyss by a rather uncoordinated educational system in urgent need of redemption.. The affected students are products of years of decay in a key sector of the Nation's economy. The system has failed to deliver good quality education to Nigerians, and from the analysis of the examination bodies, most schools and students posted horrible results.

This situation should however, compel all relevant authorities to start thinking about an interventionist measure to arrest the situation. Assessing the performance of 1, 184, 907 candidates who wrote the 2009 examination out of the 1, 200, 765 registered, NECO recorded 126, 500 candidates about (10. 53%) making five credits and higher scores in subjects including English language and Mathematics, this being the acceptable basic standard for admission into tertiary institutions. Examination malpractices are the outcome of the falling standards of education. This is due to lack of Governments' attention and the nonchalance of other relevant bodies concerned with ensuring the maintenance of standards in the education system. …

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